The 2016 “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian festival organized by the RA Ministry of Diaspora was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Armenia. The creative groups of the Hayartun Center (Director - Levon Chidilyan) this year also participated in the events within the framework of the festival with great enthusiasm. The Saint Nerses Shnorhali Youth Vocal Ensemble (Choirmaster - Maria Abulyan, Piano – Karen Mirzoyan), the Taron Dance Group (Choreographer - Suren Abramyan) properly demonstrated in Armenia successes they have achieved in preservation and development of the national culture.

On September 22, the opening ceremony of the Festival of the Duduk and Other Armenian Musical Instruments was held. Since 2012, the already traditional Duduk Festival, which is organized by the RA Ministry of Diaspora, has had an impact on making the Armenian duduk more popular. Dudukists and the students of the duduk classes from Russia, Iran, Canada, Germany, Artsakh, different regions and cities of Armenia performed Armenian folk songs, music pieces by famous Armenian composers and works of Armenian gusan music. The duduk class of the Hayartun Center at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia was represented by the teacher, Ivane Mkrtchyan, and his student Alex Bazoyan. They joined in with the performance at the grand opening concert at the Komitas Chamber Music House, at the concert organized in Talin, and at the solemn closing ceremony of the festival at the cultural center of Gavar, performing Sayat Nova’s “Kamancha” and “Medley of City Melodies”.

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan received the participants of the Festival of the Duduk and Other Armenian Musical Instruments. The Minister expressed her gratitude to the participants of the festival for performing the Armenian national music on the duduk in different corners of the world and preserving the Armenian duduk.

Within the framework of the festival the participants visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-institute, the National Gallery of Armenia, the Temple of Garni and the medieval monastery of Geghard, laid flowers on the tomb of Mesrop Mashtots in Oshakan and at the monument honoring the National Hero of Armenia, Tatul Krpeyan, in Talin. The participants returned back to Georgia filled with bright impressions.

It should be added that there is a plan to organize an international festival of national instruments and bring the Armenian and foreign musicians together on one stage.